Where to goWhere should we see the northern lights from India: Iceland, Norway or Finland?
For a first aurora trip from India, Finnish Lapland is the surest: inland skies, glass igloos and easy days with huskies and reindeer.
Answered · checked 30 October 2026
Which country should we visit in December with family?
The short answer
For a December family holiday from India, the best luxury picks are Lapland for Christmas, Japan in winter, the Maldives or Mauritius, Australia or New Zealand in summer, South Africa, and Swiss snow. A family of four spends about ₹10 lakh to ₹45 lakh, land only. The best Christmas-week rooms sell out by August or September, so book early or travel just outside the peak.
- Family of four, land only
- ₹10L to ₹45L+
- Quickest visas
- Maldives on arrival, Mauritius, Japan eVisa
- Schengen trips
- Lapland and Switzerland, apply now
- Christmas rooms
- Mostly sold by August to September
- Better odds
- 1 to 20 December, or after 5 January
The December shortlist
| Where | Why in December | Visa for Indians | Family of four, land only |
|---|---|---|---|
| Finnish Lapland | Santa Claus Village at Rovaniemi on the Arctic Circle, huskies, reindeer, the northern lights | Schengen, apply 8 to 12 weeks ahead | ₹20L to ₹40L for 5 to 6 nights |
| Japan | Snow in Hokkaido, quiet temples in Kyoto, winter illuminations, onsen | eVisa via VFS, allow about four weeks | ₹16L to ₹30L for 8 to 9 nights |
| Maldives | Dry season, calm seas, kids clubs in full swing | Free visa on arrival | ₹9L to ₹45L for 5 nights |
| Mauritius | Southern summer, long beaches, gentler prices than the Maldives | Nothing to apply for in advance | ₹10L to ₹22L for 7 nights |
| Australia or New Zealand | Long summer days, wildlife, road trips, Christmas on a beach | Visitor visa online, file 8 weeks ahead | ₹18L to ₹35L for 10 nights |
| South Africa | Cape Town's dry summer, the winelands, a malaria-free safari | Visitor visa, allow 4 to 6 weeks | ₹16L to ₹35L for 9 nights |
| Switzerland | Snow, Christmas markets, the Glacier Express | Schengen, apply 8 to 12 weeks ahead | ₹20L to ₹45L for 7 nights |
Booking late for Christmas
For the famous rooms, mostly yes. Glass-roofed cabins in Lapland, family villas in the Maldives and the best ski hotels in Japan and Switzerland are usually full for Christmas and New Year by August or September. Booking after September still works if you bend a little.
- Move the dates: 1 to 20 December, or from 5 January, has far more space and kinder prices.
- Pick the second address in a great place over the first address in a lesser one.
- Choose quick visas: the Maldives and Mauritius need nothing in advance, and Japan's eVisa is filed online.
- For Lapland or Switzerland, file the Schengen visa at once; December appointment slots are tight.
How far ahead to book December
| Trip | Book by | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Lapland at Christmas | 9 to 12 months ahead | Small lodges with few cabins |
| Maldives at Christmas and New Year | 8 to 10 months ahead | Few two-bedroom villas, festive minimum stays |
| Ski hotels in Japan or Switzerland | 8 to 10 months ahead | Family rooms go first |
| Australia and New Zealand | 6 to 9 months ahead | Their summer school holidays begin in December |
| South Africa | 6 to 9 months ahead | Cape Town's peak season, small safari lodges |
| Japan cities | 4 to 6 months ahead | Busy mainly in the year-end week |
Choosing for three generations
With grandparents, the Maldives, Mauritius and Japan's cities are the gentlest: short or familiar flights, warm hotels, little walking. Lapland is magical for children but cold, well below freezing, with only a few hours of daylight. Australia and New Zealand mean long flights and big distances, so pick one region. South Africa's safaris start early, so choose a lodge where grandparents can skip a drive and still see the waterhole.
Questions, answered
Also asked.
Which country is best to visit in December from India with family?
For a luxury family trip: Lapland for Christmas, Japan in winter, the Maldives or Mauritius for warmth, Australia, New Zealand or South Africa for summer, and Switzerland for snow. Expect ₹10 lakh to ₹45 lakh for a family of four, land only.
How early should we book Christmas abroad?
By August or September for the best-known rooms. Booking later, travel 1 to 20 December or after 5 January, or choose quick-visa places like the Maldives, Mauritius or Japan.
Which December trips have the easiest visa for Indians?
The Maldives gives a free visa on arrival and Mauritius needs nothing in advance. Japan's eVisa is filed through VFS; allow about four weeks. Lapland and Switzerland need a Schengen visa, applied 8 to 12 weeks ahead.
How much does Lapland cost for a family of four at Christmas?
About ₹20 lakh to ₹40 lakh for five to six nights, land only, in private lodges with huskies, reindeer and northern-lights nights. Book 9 to 12 months ahead for Christmas week.
Where is warm in December for an Indian family?
The Maldives (about ₹9 lakh to ₹45 lakh for five nights), Mauritius (₹10 lakh to ₹22 lakh for seven), Australia or New Zealand (₹18 lakh to ₹35 lakh for ten) and South Africa (₹16 lakh to ₹35 lakh for nine), for a family of four, land only.
Where can we see snow in December?
Lapland, Hokkaido in Japan and Switzerland. Switzerland runs about ₹20 lakh to ₹45 lakh for a family of four for seven nights, land only, and Japan about ₹16 lakh to ₹30 lakh for eight to nine.
Keep reading
Where to go
Family journeysWhich Maldives resort is best for an Indian vegetarian family with kids?
Choose the island by its kitchen first: Four Seasons Kuda Huraa's Baraabaru, Siyam World's Kurry Leaf and Taj Coral Reef's Bokkura serve Indian food, and Atmosphere Kanifushi has a pure-vegetarian restaurant, Just Veg.
Family journeysHow do we do Japan with elderly parents and vegetarian food?
A private three-generation Japan journey of 9 to 10 nights costs about ₹16 lakh to ₹60 lakh or more for a family of four, land only, roughly ₹4 lakh to ₹15 lakh per person; a family of six lands near ₹23 lakh to ₹85 lakh.
What it costsWhat does a luxury Switzerland trip from India really cost?
A private, properly luxurious Switzerland journey from India costs ₹9 lakh to ₹22 lakh or more for two for seven nights, land only: five-star lake and mountain hotels, first-class rail or a private driver, and the Glacier Express.
